Ellen Hill

Ellen Elizabeth Owens Hill was born September 20, 1933 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Edward and Olivia Owens and passed away peacefully at home on July 8, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. She married Billy G. Hill, of Lava Hot Springs, Idaho on May 17, 1951. Ellen is survived by her husband of 66 years and her four children. Son, Edward Hill (Laura Keller) and his daughter Taylor (Josh) Ames, great grandson's Jaxon and Mason. Daughter, Marsha and Norm Fryer, and their daughters, Jennifer (Joe) Ryan and Michelle, and great grand-children, Juliana, Joseph, and Jackson Ryan. Son, Anthony Hill and wife Lori Williams, his sons, Dustin (Emily) and Brandon. Son, Ronald Hill and wife Jean Hill, their sons, Noah, Nathan, and Samuel. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward (Ted) Owens and Olivia (Muncey) Owens, and her brother Edward. Ellen spent most of her young life in McCammon, Idaho. Her father instilled in her a deep faith in the Catholic Church, a strong work ethic, and the devotion of family. Her mother gifted her with an artistic hand for sewing, provided her with tools to be an amazing cook, and shared her wisdom on human compassion. She met a handsome young man, Billy G. Hill, from Lava Hot Springs, Idaho at a dance. After months of courting Ellen joyously agreed to be his wife. However, her parents had moved out of state during her senior year of high school and could only afford to attend one event, her wedding or her graduation. Ever the problem solver, Ellen married Bill in a small family ceremony only hours before receiving her high school diploma and serving as valedictorian of the class of 1951. They lived on a cattle ranch in Montana, helped in the family lumber mill in Idaho, and finally settled their growing family in Bountiful, Utah. While Bill worked as a long-haul truck driver, Ellen ran their house and raised their children. She worked full time and eventually retired from the City of Bountiful, as a payroll and benefits administrator. Ellen and Bill shared many great adventures on their life journey. Their family spent much of their time, boating and camping in the RV. They enjoyed long weekends in a campground and exploring their surroundings. When they retired, Bill and Ellen spent several years traveling the United States together, visiting 48 of the 50 states. As a sports enthusiast, Ellen regularly cheered on her sons at their ball games and could be found relaxing at home watching a game on TV. She loved the Utah Jazz, especially Karl Malone, and even had the supreme pleasure of stepping onto the court to shoot a hoop during one of the games. As a life-long Denver Bronco’s fan, she eagerly watched all of their games and hoped one day to own a real John Elway jersey. Ellen was an avid reader, sometimes devouring 2-3 books a week. She loved knowledge and took every opportunity to learn new things. She introduced her friends and family to new authors and collected several series. Later in life, she would enjoy the opportunity to go to book readings and have them autographed by the author. She tentatively embraced emerging technologies, and took on the challenge of learning new software, trying out devices like e-readers and smart phones. Much of her family, would discover later in life that Ellen was also a secret coin collector. She was an amazing cook. In her youth, she learned to make decadent candies and chocolates, and made them yearly for her friends and family as gifts. Her dinner rolls were a staple at holiday dinners, while her fudge was always requested for Christmas, but nothing could ever beat her scrumptious carrot cake. Every member of her family had a favorite dish and a visit home meant the chance to indulge. Over the years, she created a database of her recipes and organized them electronically for all to enjoy. The number one love in Ellen’s life was her family, from her children and their spouses (the out-laws), her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they were her source of joy and pride. She loved them unconditionally, even though they were all crazy - and made her laugh. Ellen will be fondly remembered as one of the best listeners in the world. She had a knack for being a confidant and wise advisor, but also serve as your own personal cheerleader and life guru. She avoided being the center of attention but made sure everyone else felt like they were the center of her world. It is only fitting that she left this world as she lived it, very quietly. The memories she gave us will last forever, the love she gave will last an eternity.